In contrast to many other refugee populations, the Bhutanese community contains a high proportion of older members. Fear of how older people will fare is one factor causing some families to hesitate to choose resettlement.

• Better orientation is needed to help the refugees understand the kind of assistance that may be available to the elderly and other vulnerable people. After resettlement, communities can help by reaching out to older refugees with social support.

"I was tortured in Bhutan, and kept in an unheated cell through the winter. Now, when it is cold I feel the pain. Can I be resettled somewhere where I can be warm?" – Chakra

Many Bhutanese who were politically active in Bhutan report being imprisoned and mistreated. Torture survivors may need special assistance for the successful transition to a new life. It should also be noted that because medical facilities in the camps are very limited, serious physical conditions such as cancer and heart conditions often go completely untreated.

• Access to medical treatment for refugees in the camps should be improved.
• It should be a priority to identify torture survivors and other vulnerable individuals at an early point in resettlement processing. This information should be used to ensure that they are placed in appropriate locations where support services are available.

Despite – or perhaps as a result of – the many challenges they have faced during their long exile, the Bhutanese refugees are a resilient community that has maintained its sense of pride and independence in a remarkable fashion. They have used their time well, educating their children and maintaining their cultural traditions and values. They join the long line of immigrants who have traveled to the United States not to abandon their hopes and dreams but to fulfill them.

 

Old Hopes and New Dreams: Bhutanese Refugees Ponder the Challenge of Resettlement